Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Group

DBT Group

DBT works on the premise that clients are doing the best that they can to cope, that they are using coping skills that worked in the past, but are no longer effective. This is an approach that integrates the cognitive, the emotional, the behavioral and the spiritual.

For a client to receive the maximum benefit from this approach, it is recommended that they receive both the DBT skills training and individual therapy from a DBT therapist.

DBT skills training groups are available at DaTRAC. At DaTRAC, DBT is taught using the training workbook that Marsha Linehan developed.

How can DBT Help?

If you answer yes to one or more of the following questions, you could benefit from the DBT approach:

Do you become overwhelmed when a crisis hits and don't know how to calm yourself?

Do you feel suicidal or think of abusing yourself or doing dangerous things at times of crises?

Do you often worry about others leaving or rejecting you?

Do you find yourself in relationships where you switch from thinking the other person is “perfect” to thinking they are “awful”?

Do you often feel empty and bored much of the time?

Do you often have sudden shifts of mood?

Do you have trouble controlling your anger and have frequent outbursts or physical fights?

DBT Skills Training

DBT Skills Training is designed to teach new skills. It cannot provide the kind of support and insight required to integrate these skills into your everyday life. Therefore, it is required that you also be regularly seeing an individual therapist. You will benefit most if your therapist has DBT experience and training. Minnesota Mental Health Clinicshas several trained therapists.

The DBT skills training group meets once a week.

Core Mindfulness

This first section helps you become more centered and in touch with your feelings. This section meets for 1.5 hours weekly, for 6 weeks.

There are three other sections that meet weekly for 3 hours for eight weeks.

Emotional Regulation

This section helps you manage your emotions in constructive ways

Distress Tolerance

This section helps you deal more effectively with crisis without engaging in self-defeating or self-abusive behavior.

Interpersonal Skills

This section helps you deal with people and relationships

If you need a more frequent or intensive level of service than DBT provides, additional groups can be added to best fit your needs.

What if I’ve Completed DBT Skills Training and Want More?

Phase II is a DBT interactive process group available to people who have successfully completed DBT Skills Training and have benefited from it, but are still in need for some on-going support. Phase II meets weekly for two hours. These meetings are held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00pm – 8:00pm at our Eagan Clinic.

How Do I Get Started?

If you have a question about what services would be helpful, call us at (651) 454-0114.

Approval will be needed from your insurance company.

If you don’t have insurance and are a Dakota County resident, you may be eligible if you have low income for County support through Dakota County Social Services.

To schedule an appointment:

Use our online appointment booking tool today or give us a call at (651) 454-0114